The First Death Row Blogger.VERNON DOES NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS. If you send questions to the email adddress MeetVernon@GMail.com, I will print and mail your questions to Vernon. (Read the introduction.)

Sunday, February 19, 2006

Hurricane Katrina

Dear Vernon,

I have suffered many loses in the recent months due to Hurricane Katrina and I have started thinking about what life, possessions, and family really mean, and which are essential for living a happy life. If there is one bit of advice you could give for a young person in this confusing world, what would it be? Anything from growing up, to life lessons you have learned. Thanks for everything and peace to you.

Kate

Dear Kate,

I would give sound advice of making Jesus a part of every life no matter what others may think of you in doing it. Make a way to read The Bible. Surround yourself with positive young or older people. Because would a friend really offer you drugs? Would a friend really offer you a drink? Would a friend really tell you to go and disrespect your parent? I think not. But I really thought those kind of people were my friends. That’s how the devil works. He gives false impressions even using other people to do it.Know for sure it is easy to get into trouble, but over a million of us can tell young people it is very hard to get out of.

30 Comments:

I have noticed that pro-execution people like Jim and Daydreamer focus on emotional manipulation instead of argument. Today, to Daydreamer, I put succinctly an argument for not pre judging Vernon's new trial review. She carefully ignored my my answer to her question and instead focused on calling me "childish" for reflecting back at Jim his own aggression and insults of "moron" "candy ass" "asshole" etc. She even appeared to blame me for the exchange which Jim started and pursued. What Daydreamer does is stab and run. She carefully avoided explaining her bizarre attack on English Blogger when she refused to accept his explanation of irony, which she could not see (nor win) and then she said she was going to "finish the conversation" and ran off in a huff after first sticking the knife in by calling English Blogger, a "hipocrite." Stab and run. I challenged her on her behaviour to English Blogger today and she pretended not to have seen the question. Her blindness was quite humourous. The only argument the Cruelty proponents have is emotional manipulation and insults to which I am a mirror. I can do the same. Does not go anywhere but do it to me and I'll use the same language style back. Of the two, Jim is more honest (although he can lie about what he has written previously.) He f's and blinds all over the place. Daydreamer stabs and runs. She stands on some high footing and decries insults (e.g.Bee)but then does exactly the same thing herself calling me "childish" and English Blogger a "hipocrite". But what can you expect from the Angry and the Cruel? Not much !! There is no argument for violent cruelty and Jim, who advocates execution whether Vernon is innocent or not, declared he would "hunt down" and "make it public and messy" for the people he does not like with the word "asshole" every third word.

At the end of the day, it does not matter what the likes of Jim and Daydreamer want. The tide is turning. With powerful bodies like Amnesty, The Catholic Church, the BMA, and a thousand more powerful institutions adding their weight to counter the sadistic brutality of the death penalty, the likes of Jim and Daydreamer will fade into medieval history where they belong..

I've seen you in several different places, you've suggested a psychiatrist to others, you've spoke in demeaning tones and with unnecessary hostility. I don't know why you choose to be so 'angry' and unaccepting to others rights to their own opinions without trying to humiliate.

John I do not believe that you are a psychotherapist. I am a medical professional myself and have never encountered this level of blatant aggressiveness from my friends or colleagues. It would very much surprise me if you have any mental health experience beyond that of a patient. As we all know, we can be anything we want in the anonymity of the web.

....here's just a sampling of your anger:

john said... Oh going round the back door of argument Killer Grots? Funny ! So brave ! The Navy? Hahahahaha!! and you pretend to be "in the thick of it!!" I love it piss head. You would never have got into the Army. When I had a laugh and read out your bizarre ramblings to an old SAS mate of mine he said you'd have been RTU'd as Mentally Unstable. You are the "moron"! You've never seen incoming fire in your life not judging from your "It's not a pleasant feeling" comment you pathetic little weed. You, like your opinions, are a joke.

john said... Hahahaha!! I was out with SAS patrols when you were still a little egg Hahahaha!! I've seen more action than you've had hot dinners on your little boat !! What a weed you are "OOO it's not a nice feeling" Hahahahahaha!! 2/20/2006

Anger, John, in and of itself is a valid emotion. But you seem to focus on other people's anger rather than your own glaring intolerance for dissenting views. Perhaps you could spare the readers here your nickel analysis of their psyche and spend some energy on your own issues.

Dear medical professional !! After this man has stated he wants to hunt down and kill drug addicts "public and messy" etc call everybody who disagrees with him a"moron", an asshole etc and his military "supremacy" as a basis of his kill argument, I have decided to take the piss out of them to show them what they are. You have completely missed the point. This is not a therapeutic environment for a start. But confrontational psychology and anti manipulatory psychology is very useful in some situations. You can believe entirely what you like. I really do not mind. I know what I am and that's all that matters to me. And in my profession of psychology, I have known some very tough psychiatrists which rather tells me that your experience in such matters is not very extensive .... Keep plenty of space free because you will be able to quote a lot more of my strategy really soon !! OK? Tough if you don't like it...

Stitches, Thanks for the "care" though that I picked up in your last paragraph, but really, it's two decades since I was a patient myself, and I went on to qualify and practice. I can have more than one "hat" as you have noticed. But notice the difference between "banter" and anger. My new strategy is just "banter" to mirror back the verbal violence being thrown at me.

In case you are worried professionally speaking, I would not "banter" like this as I have here in a therapeutic environment, but as a medical professional, you will know that apart from making connexions. one part of a psychotherapist's role is to find out what makes a patient angry, and make them angry so that "transference" can take place and the group can see that. They are then built up again and supported. As I said before, this is not a therapeutic environment. By repeating my "mirrors" you are bringing out and re-presenting some of the verbal violence that has been thrown at me for some time. I cannot argue logically with verbal violence, but by using "banter" I can throw it or rather reflect it straight back to where it came from. Have you never heard of "Broken record technique" for example? That's coming next if this present strategy does not stop the insults being thrown at me.

John being "abusive"? John being "confrontational"? John being "angry"? I don't think so. One only has to watch Dr. Phil to see what abusive, confrontational and angry is about. Don't get side-tracked, John. Keep your cool and focus. It is an age-old technique, as you will know, to draw one away from the REAL issue here...Vernon.

Thanks Doct I appreciate that !! you can see the real "me" through all my "banter" !!! That's indeed what I have started doing. Stop the insults and the military arguments of Jim, with banter and direct the debate back to Vernon.

To stitches 77,I would add, Have you ever been a medical professional in mental hospitals? The more anti-manipulatory skills you possess, the more success you will have in that environment. Now I am not boasting ok, but in pastjob references to hospitals of the mentally disadvantaged, I have psychiatrist's recommendations that, and I quote, "John is highly suitable for this kind of work" My peers in London,who really know me, would not agree with you, I'm afraid. And do you believe that the just "smile and hope they won't hit you" policy works in clinical practice in mental hospitals?? You have to do a bit more than that !! In another field for example, Conducting Group psychotherapy requires insight. An understanding of dynamics. The more experience you have, the more adaptive you can be to different situations. For now, after been reasonably tolerant towards incessant and constant attack by Jim even when I have not been talking to him, I have decided to be a "mirror." If he continues to insult me,butting in with his insults when I am talking to other people, I have more strategies up my sleeve !! See if you can spot them Stitches 77. You never know, you might learn something !!! I am not angry Stitches 77, I have a strong personality and that can be frightening to some.

And, stitches 77, to pick up on Doct's point about keeping to the point of this page VERNON and the death penalty, would you as a medical professional, like to comment on The BMA's condemnation (that's The British Medical Association in case you didn't know) They have pointed out that American executioners do not use sufficient levels of anaesthetic to sedate. As the lethal chemicals cause burning and intense agony, as a medical professional, would you agree with the BMA's medical opinion? And do you disagree with state torture?

Good point, John! Especially in view of Michael Morales being hours away from his death in California, where he was denied clemency and they have chosen to kill him with an overdose of a barbiturate instead of the "three injection" method.

The 9th Circuit Court ruled last week that, in order to excute him, the State had to either put two aneathetists in the room with him, to make sure he did "go to sleep" with the first injection, before the others are administered OR he must be killed by an overdose of barbiturates.

The DA chose the first option but the doctors walked out minutes before his scheduled execution today (ethics). They have now selected the second UNTESTED method.

His attorneys are AT THIS MOMENT running around trying to again have it stayed. Schwarzenegger declined NINE pleas for clemency so far today! This is BARBARIC! They haven't tested the new method yet neither have they done any research other than that presented to the 9th Circuit, who ACCEPTED IT OUTRIGHT!

Morales admitted his guilt. He is a killer. But to make a guinea pig out of him and to "test it out" on him is DOWNRIGHT INHUMANE!! What if anything goes wrong?

Come on, people, this is not right! We are humans, not animals, for God's sake!!!!

I totally agree with you doct it's a sick barbaric process isn't it. I'm glad the doctors walked out on ethical grounds. Quite right. I notice that even the original trial judge is now siding with Morales's attorneys. He asked the govenor for clemency too.

SAS???? to quote a buddy of mine from the SBS they are a sad bunch of blokes, special ops people are 90% mental intimidation and 10% physical. They are trained that way so that when they can cause fear amongst foes it serves a dual purpose, course you would know this, if you were in fact with any special ops group. By the way more lies about me....ought to be ashamed of yourself a professional(i use that term very loosely) never did say I would "kill all drug addicts", once again a figment of your rantings, second what makes you think I was on a ship, just because of the navy? think again bub, And your SAS patrols, where Northern Ireland, Argentina Faulklands or Iraq, only ops SAS been out on in about 2 decades, course what would a gay sailor boy know about the whereabouts of the SAS if on a ship and not necessarily working in Intelligence or within a spec ops community!!! And obviously I can't let it go that you state that I am very young, how old do you think I am, been around since the tail end of Vietnam so I can't be too young. Anyone who reads this can gain their own opinion, they can see your rantings about this, and read my words carefully.

Hi Jim! I think you have a point re the special ops training. I will give you that, as it happens even here in our country.

However, how about we stick to the topics on this debate...the "death penalty", instead of detracting from it by everyone now having to prove their bona-fides or try and prove each other wrong re their backgrounds?

A super quick word before I rush off to the mountains. JIM old chap. I can't believe it ! A poetic piece without a single insult ! Congratulations and WELCOME ! As long as you put your arguments without calling me a string of abuse names and making references to my naiivity because you imagine I haven't been shot at or whatever argument you were trying to use, I will treat you with the same respect. For the record, and I don't want to get into a long discourse about this,You mentioned them so I replied. the SAS is closely involved with gathering intelligence in various theatres, which was my involvement when I was young. I can only speak from personal experience. Yes, I have been shot at. And, after six years, when I wanted to leave, they asked me to stay, so I must have done a good job being shot at Hahahaha!! Maybe things are different now. I don't know. But now that you have proved that you can join debate in a mature way, please continue that way and my "banter" will stop forthwith. It was only banter. Good fun, but it doesn't go anywhere in a debate. Keep going mate as you are. I'll have respect for a different viewpoint but without the bash !! Now I really must rush off. I am not running away !! But duty to wife calls !! I'll be back tomorrow Regards

Doct I know it is irrelevant to the debate, but as Jim introduced it, just one final quick word. There is more to the SAS regiment than Jim imagines. It has quite a sting in the tail. (Personal experience) I have just seen that Jim is still going on about military matters in another blog section so I have asked Jim to leave the subject and get back to the debate. I am not here to talk about Military Intelligence gathering techniques, risk factors,strikes, sabotage, survival, nor the fact that I was a Marksman,and was shot at, etc. etc. To anyone else that stuff is boring. Leave it Jim, OK? I don't mind what you think. I know what I was and am. You are not going to change my personal history whatever you say, so pack it up, or I'll go back to taking the piss out of you. That's stop OK. Debate without reference to bullets and insults.

Jim as ex-RN I can tell you, the SBS is part of the Royal Marines, a sub-branch, that works closely with Royal Navy intelligence. They are also related to its Big Brother the SAS, which are part of the British Army Inteligence, who train “even” the American Marines in tactical knowledge. The SAS are sent out all over the World in units (4 people) to do various special ops, from reccies, tactical retrieval and removal to collation of important data on suspect terrorists. I could go on on, but I have signed the OSA.

As Jesus said, Jim, all who have sinned if they come through me will be forgiven. So who are we to go over Jesus's head? Jesus is the Son of God. If someone has asked for forgivness from God, Jim and have truly repented, why would you want to "kill them"? Are you saying God isn't good enough?

Well done English Blogger. One of Jim's fantasies was that he personally had done "so much " for his "cousins across the pond". As you say, the "help" Jim talked about goes the other way. One of the roles of SAS is to train. See you tomorrow. All the best.

Guys, I read what you all have to say. Again, this is not productive when it comes to the purpose of this blog. I suggest we ignore any reference to subjects other than Vernon, deathrow, the death penalty and the lethal injection and move on. I suggest that, in future, we don't answer any comments that are insulting, demeaning or out of context with the subjects at hand. I suggest we don't even answer persons that do that. By answering, and John will bear me out here, seeing that it is more his field, we will only be fueling their purpose and motives.

Doc, you cannot have people spouting untruthes, if someone says something that is a mistake I will pick up on it, whether it is semantics or just plain facts. I will only talk on things I know about, so I can speak from the heart with authority.Sorry if you dont agree with it, we cant agree on everything.

Hey EB! That's true. As we say in South Africa: "Each one to his own poison!". I will respect that. I myself choose to rather debate on a topic where I'm not distracted. I have found that the "opposition" uses such tactics to distract one from the issues at hand. But, again, each one's business what he/she does. I like your postings comparing with the Word. It's good to see a fellow Believer on here! May you be blessed! By the way, have you seen my latest postings? Got one on there on Murder vs Domestic Violence. Some real cases here in SA refelcted on there. I would love to hear your comments.

Hello doct. I think English Blogger is right to clarify. The reason I think that, is because Jim seems to associate military matters with strength of personality, and uses that as an argument for execution. As I have just pointed out in another post, and I'm sure you will agree with me, that it, in fact, takes strength and courage to go against the stream and say "No" to the death penalty. Here are three ex-military guys all saying NO to the death penalty. Tough people say No. We did not shoot P.O.W.'s tied up and helpless. It is not in our code of conduct to do that and, correspondingly, perhaps we believe it is not right to kill a civvy tied up to a guerney. Jim thinks I am weak. His knowledge of professional soldiering is off-mark and as Jim has used affiliation to "macho" military matters, I agree with EB. We need to give Jim the opportunity to self examine his image of what the nature of "courage" is. But I do agree with you that if I get anymore insults, I will treat them with the contempt they deserve. And you are right, they are distractions that tell me that the central argument for execution is pretty weak if all they have is emotional manipulation and insults.

HEEEYYY!!! My Friend is back!! How was the mountains, John? The wife glad to see you? Of course she was!!

You are right in your post. It takes LOTS of strength to stand up for one's convictions and beliefs! Military matters are military matters. As you would know...there has ALWAYS been "professional jealousy" between soldiers of different units. But that is outside the theatre of war. When the "pot starts boiling", it is set aside and everyone pitches in! And as EB says: "There's a code of silence..." I think what's in our hearts, must stay there other than using our experience in that theatre to teach our children NOT to wage war and to endlessly fight for abolishing the death penalty. Only once one has experienced death can one realise the horror of it. And real SO's would know the EXTREME horror. I don't know of ANY SO who isn't an abolishinist! Glad you are back, Bud!

Hello Doct Thanks mate !! And did it snow !! Great fun. Yes I started putting up a fence cage as a precaution to protect our cats against a possible bird flu outbreak. It hasn't happened in Spain yet, but it's only a matter of time, and I think cats could catch the disease if they eat infected birds. Yes I agree with you. When you see brutal killing you do not want to see anymore. Just a word, beware of stitches 77. Her only argument is insults and I am going to follow your general suggestions. Just ignore her. Another example I'm afraid of the weakness of some of the pro killing brigade. No argument, just insults. A pointless distraction. Hey, I love your research. I haven't gone through all of it yet, but from what I have been able to see, you have done a very thorough job.